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[fiasco]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

You'll learn more after the game over a beer/diet coke() with the guys than you will at most meetings, especially if your partners are experienced, solid officials.

Sigh. I guess this is the part where I decide how serious about this I want to be. Not with regards to learning the rules of the game and becoming a good official, but with regards to advancing as far up as I can.

I know most guys are different, but I'd just much rather be at home with my wife than hanging out in a bar with some relative strangers. Perhaps that will change as I get more into it, though. I see your point.

[Junker]

Obviously family is more important. You will find that officiating is like anything. If you truely want to excel, it is going to take a time commitment.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Nor has there ever been an abolition on belted pants. The situation is exactly the same. It's a question of style. If 95% of D1 officials suddenly went back to belted pants next season, so would most of the rest of us. This is exactly what happened with pleats and the new wide-stripe shirt. The lanyard is exactly the same kind of situation. Pure style.

I did not say there was an abolishment of anything. Actually you can wear anything you like and technically fit the uniform. There are just things that are much more standard and if you wear those standards, hardly anyone will ever complain about that item. Belt less pants fit are an acceptable standard.

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Agreed. But even more acceptable is not to have any facial hair at all.

Once again, that depends on who you are. I have had a mustache my entire career and I have never had anyone say anything about it. It has never appeared to hurt me work anything. I will just reference Danny Crawford (NB), Donny Gray (D1 and sometimes cuts his off), Gerald Boudreaux (SEC Supervisor of Official and Final Four Official during his career). Most African-American D1 Officials seem to wear a mustache and this includes the ones that work the Final Four and other NCAA Tournament games. My point is this is not a deal breaker issue.

Peace

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by fiasco

I know most guys are different, but I'd just much rather be at home with my wife than hanging out in a bar with some relative strangers. Perhaps that will change as I get more into it, though. I see your point.

You must not have been married very long.

Peace

[fiasco]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

You must not have been married very long.

I find it oddly disturbing that this is the reaction I always get when I make a statement like that.

What can I say? I love my wife and she's smokin' hot.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by fiasco

I find it oddly disturbing that this is the reaction I always get when I make a statement like that.

What can I say? I love my wife and she's smokin' hot.

Fiasco, it was a joke. And that fact that you said she is smoking hot tells us that you have not been married long at all (this is also a joke). (See the smiley face after the post. This usually means someone is joking, since you are new and all.)

Also some of the best teaching of officiating goes on after the game is over or at the local bar or restaurant. This does not mean every single night you work you must go out, but if you want to learn the ins and outs of officiating, I would not be so quick to dismiss this practice. Sometimes a recommendation or vital information will be given at on of these establishments. Remember, you did ask what you needed to know to become a good official.

Peace

[mick]

Originally Posted by fiasco

I find it oddly disturbing that this is the reaction I always get when I make a statement like that.

What can I say? I love my wife and she's smokin' hot.

That's fine. But you weren't listening.
A lot of knowledge is gleaned right after a game, while the numbers, faces and actions are still clear in many minds.

In the original post you asked for "advice you would give to a new guy starting out". It was offered.

• Bearef offered: Be willing to accept constructive criticism...
• SWMOzebra offered: Remember, making mistakes is easy. Learning from the mistakes you make can be more difficult, but will make you a stronger official.
• Dan ref offered: Learn to keep your mouth shut. Really.
• Junker offered: One nugget not mentioned is that as the new guy, always offer to buy the first round after the game.
• Ignats75 offered: Going out those couple of times a year when everyone agrees to meet at Quaker Steak & Lube. I would encourage you to do that. If you never go out, it will be that much harder for you to earn the trust of the veterans.
• Jurassic Referee offered: You'll learn more after the game over a beer/diet coke() with the guys than you will at most meetings, especially if your partners are experienced, solid officials.
• Junker added: After the game, on Friday nights we would go have a beverage or two and I'd sit in the corner, listen and ask questions. Its a great way to learn!
• Rut offered: Also some of the best teaching of officiating goes on after the game is over or at the local bar or restaurant. This does not mean every single night you work you must go out, but if you want to learn the ins and outs of officiating, I would not be so quick to dismiss this practice.

There it is. Believe it.

[fiasco]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Also some of the best teaching of officiating goes on after the game is over or at the local bar or restaurant. This does not mean every single night you work you must go out, but if you want to learn the ins and outs of officiating, I would not be so quick to dismiss this practice. Sometimes a recommendation or vital information will be given at on of these establishments. Remember, you did ask what you needed to know to become a good official.

Thanks. I do understand this as it has been explained to me.

All I'm saying is that I'm not much of the going out and drinkin with the buds kind of guy. If that means I won't move up the ranks as fast, I'm either going to have to rectify that by going out now and then or being content with where I'm at. That's just a decision I'll have to make personally. I'm not trying to FIGHT what you're saying at all, and I trust your judgement, I'm just saying it might not be for me.

[refnrev]

fiasco,
Do your game and go home to your wife. These guys are just messing with you. This board is filled with a lot of people with wierd senses of humor and a lot of people with no sense of humor at all! Good luck on the upcoming season and welcome to the fraternity of zebras.
Now, as for pants..... I have never been a fan of beltless pants, but will be wearing them next year for the varsity games. But, if you're just starting out and working all low level stuff it makes no difference... and truthfully doesn't even make any sense to go out spend 60 - 70 bucks on a pair of referee pants. See if you enjoy it first, then you can upgrade on the equipment. As for your comment about never noticing someone's pants, only a group of referees will. Worry more about rules and calls first. Then get you some good Cliff Keens, Sansablets, Honigs, or Smittys down the road.
But if you wear a size 36 waist tjones1 will have a deal for you on Honigs pants!

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This is also not completely true. I have a mustache and have had one my entire career. I will say this, it seems like it is much more acceptable for African-Americans to wear mustaches rather than other races of people. There are several D1 and NBA Officials that happen to be African-American and wear a mustache. It is not acceptable in most circles to wear a full beard.
Peace

I have heard this directly from the mouth of a veteran D1 official. It is accepted for African-Americans to wear a mustache. I would say the same thing applies for African-American female officials having tightly wound corn-rows or braids (I know one who did this and I asked her if her supervisors objected), I doubt a White female official would be allowed to show up looking like Bo Derek in the move 10. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I'm just saying that it is.

Being that I am half-Black/half-White, I don't know which set of rules apply to me.

[Ignats75]

After the game, on Friday nights we would go have a beverage or two and I'd sit in the corner, listen and ask questions. Its a great way to learn!

A lot can be learned just listening to war stories.

[Junker]

I think you might be misunderstanding. It really isn't (or shouldn't be) the socializing that helps you move up the ladder. It is being good at what you do. The conversations that can be had with veteran officials will help you learn the game in a different way and often much faster than if you are just feeling your way on your own. If you're not the hanging out with the boys kind of guy, make sure you go to your association meetings (if there is one). If that doesn't work, find a mentor and take he and his wife out for dinner. There is no substitute for experience, but you can get through a lot of early pitfalls by drawing from others who have been there and done that.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by fiasco

Thanks. I do understand this as it has been explained to me.

All I'm saying is that I'm not much of the going out and drinkin with the buds kind of guy. If that means I won't move up the ranks as fast, I'm either going to have to rectify that by going out now and then or being content with where I'm at. That's just a decision I'll have to make personally. I'm not trying to FIGHT what you're saying at all, and I trust your judgement, I'm just saying it might not be for me.

No one said anything about "moving up fast." We told you that there are things that are discussed that will help you in the long run. Either way it goes you will have to spend some time away from your family if you decide to officiate. I know I work a lot less than many officials on and off this board and I am not married or have a family to worry about. But I do go out every now and then to officiating socials and I occasionally go out with some partners I work with. Usually this is less than 5 times the entire season and most of the times is when the post season is going on (there are more get togethers at that time). These events are never required and not everyone attends. But many advanced and unusual situations discussed and this is where you learn how to deal with those situations before you ever experience them yourself.

This conversation is the very reason why many veterans do not even bother anymore. The more you try to help, you get some rookie telling you, "Ya but...."

Peace

[fiasco]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This conversation is the very reason why many veterans do not even bother anymore. The more you try to help, you get some rookie telling you, "Ya but...."

Peace

O...M...F...G

Do you understand that I'm not disagreeing with you? I'm not. I'm taking some of your wisdom and trying to apply it to my personal situation. What don't you understand about that.

My attitude has never been "Ya, but..." It's been "Wow, I didn't realize that was the case. I guess I'll have to re-evaluate my personal cost-benefit situation."

Look, I get it. I'm a rookie. I'm green. I don't know as much as you do. You've been around the block more times than me. I get that. God, do I get that. Thanks for reminding me.

This conversation is the very reason why I don't talk with people who don't have an elementary level of reading comprehension.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by refnrev

fiasco,
Do your game and go home to your wife. These guys are just messing with you.

No, I'm not messing with anybody....and no, the other guys aren't messing with anybody either.

If you want to learn about officiating, the best time is exactly when Junker said. You learn after the game by listening and asking question from good, experienced officials in a relaxed enviroment. And if you want to advance up the officiating ladder, you had also better learn real quick that there is politics involved also. You have to network and show that your are interested, just like any other job.

Nobody is saying that he won't learn or advance as an official if he doesn't do what we've been recommending. We are telling him that he will not learn and advance nearly as fast as if he was going out and meeting with the other officials after a game.

The choice is obviously up to each individual.